Below are some resources for policy makers. The papers and reports presented are by no means an exhaustive literature review but provide a suitable gateway of information in order for policy makers and agri-environmental scheme designers to understand the complexity of this subject.
There are four sections below that provide links to information sources on biomass crops relating to:
Biomass crops policy papers and reports
A Way Forward for Biomass Crops – Industry Response to the UK Biomass Strategy – Aug 2023. Biomass crops industry response to the UK Biomass Strategy. This offers a pragmatic way forward that enables industry representatives, policy makers, environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and academics to work together on developing appropriate agri-environmental schemes for biomass crops.
Kevin Lindegaard calls on DEFRA to include willow & miscanthus in the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMs) – a video where Kevin Lindegaard calls on DEFRA to include perennial energy crops in the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMs). He describes the exclusion of biomass crops from the conversation as akin “to not just leaving an essential tool out of the toolkit but lost in the shed”. He adds “This means that doing a job is harder, takes longer and you don’t do it as well”
A critical appraisal of the effectiveness of UK perennial energy crops policy since 1990 Adams and Lindegaard, 2016, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews – (full copy attached). This study rigorously analyses some of the key UK bioenergy policies since 1990 to assess why perennial biomass crops have not fulfilled their potential. This includes planting schemes and grants for biomass power stations and boilers.
Realising the potential of perennial energy crops in the UK – This was produced in April 2022 by WPI Economics and Carter Jonas for Drax. It summarises the findings from the Adams and Lindegaard paper above.
Short rotation coppice in the UK A briefing for policymakers – The Policy Briefs.were produced as part of the EU funded Rokwood project in 2016. The four policy briefs deal with the following issues:
Short rotation plantations policy history in Europe: lessons from the past and recommendations for the future Lindegaard et al 2016. Food and Energy Security. Review paper that looks at the effect that the energy crops policy measures used in different EU countries have had, and how other external factors have impacted on the development of the industry. You’ll see how short form policy leads to boom and bust everywhere (not just here).
CAP reform consultation response 2014 – CAP reform consultation response from a coalition of interested parties. It deals primarily with SRC and presents a budget for a regional energy crops scheme and compares the costs with those of existing payments for tree planting and management. It presents an argument that such schemes could cost 25% of the cost of woodland creation schemes and potentially deliver more benefits, more quickly.
Why we need an Energy Crops Scheme 3 – Another Crops for Energy report from 2013 looking back at the performance of the Energy Crops Scheme (ECS 1 from 2000-2006 and ECS2 from 2008-2013). This report was the only one that looked at the rather poor take up of this England only scheme and presented reasons why and suggested how an ECS 3 could be tailored to make things better.
Why we need energy crops in the SW – An investigation by Crops for Energy from 2012. This was presented as a position paper and evidence based report. It shows that from planting 66,000 hectares of biomass crops (3.5% of agri land) it should have been possible to produce 37.5% of the renewable heat target for the region whilst generating substantial economic and environmental benefits.
Biodiversity papers and reports
The effects on flora and fauna of converting grassland to Short Rotation Coppice – report to the Department of Trade and Industry by the Game Conservancy and Wildlife Trust (2006) Report and Summary of results
Birds in willow short-rotation coppice compared to other arable crops in central England and a review of bird census data from energy crops in the UK – Sage, Cunningham and Boatman, 2006. Ibis The International Journal of Avian Science.
The environmental impacts of biomass crops: use by birds of miscanthus in summer and winter in southwestern England. Sage et al, 2010 Ibis The International Journal of Avian Science.
The impact of biomass crop cultivation on temperate biodiversity. Dauber, Jones & Stout, 2010 Global Change Biology Bioenergy
Potential benefits of commercial willow Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) for farm-scale plant and invertebrate communities in the agri-environment. Rowe et al, 2011 Biomass and Bioenergy
Evaluating ecosystem processes in willow short rotation coppice bioenergy plantations. Rowe et al 2013 Global Change Biology Bioenergy
Potential of Short Rotation Coppice plantations to reinforce functional biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Verheyen et al 2014 Biomass and Bioenergy
Biodiversity in short-rotation coppice – Vanbeveren & Ceulemansa, 2019 Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
Land-use change from food to energy: Meta-analysis unravels effects of bioenergy on biodiversity and cultural ecosystem services. Donnison et al, 2021 Environmental research letters
Water quality protection paper and reports
Reducing the time-dependent climate impact of intensive agriculture with strategically positioned short rotation coppice willow. Livingstone et al 2023 Journal of Cleaner Production
Life cycle assessment of a short-rotation coppice willow riparian buffer strip for farm nutrient mitigation and renewable energy production. Livingstone et al 2022 Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
Willow coppice in intensive agricultural applications to reduce strain on the food-energy-water nexus. Livingstone et al 2021 Biomass and Bioenergy
Use of Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) willow for the bioremediation of effluents and leachates: Project Report, 2014 – ANSWER (Agricultural Need for Sustainable Willow Effluent Recycling)
Use of Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) willow for the bioremediation of effluents and leachates: Current Knowledge, 2014 – ANSWER (Agricultural Need for Sustainable Willow Effluent Recycling)
Flood mitigation papers and reports
Energy Crops and Floodplain Flows. Rose and Resolva, 2010 report for the Environment Agency
Energy crops on floodplains – flood risk or benefit? Resolva et al 2010. British Hydrological Society
Woodland for Water: Woodland measures for meeting Water Framework Directive objectives. Nisbet et al 2011 Forest Research Monograph
The effect of energy crops on floodplain flows. 2014. Environment Agency and DEFRA
